Show: The English Beat
Date: December 2, 2011
Venue: House of Blues
City: Anaheim, CA
The English Beat
Photos by Nicolas Bates
Written by Nicolas Bates
When you are informed you will be attending a show in which the headlining band was active from ’78 to ’83, you may have some reservations. For me, images of walkers and oxygen tanks on stage were conjured up, and I just couldn’t shake them.
I walked into the House of Blues Anaheim to find a surprisingly large crowd—large enough to fill the entire lower half and at least one quarter of the upstairs portion of the venue. The demographic was both men and women in their late ‘40s to early ‘50s. But, these folks were ready to party. Perhaps, like it was 1983…
After waiting a solid 45 minutes after their scheduled set time, a bright and cheery Dave Wakeling (lead vocals/guitar) appeared on stage with his signature teardrop Vox guitar and they smashed right in to it.
Dave Wakeling is the only remaining member of The English Beat, but all performing musicians were young (in fact, some of the musicians playing with Wakeling quite possibly hadn’t even been born during the Beat’s heyday), sharp and on top of it.
Hit “I’ll Take You There” had ladies screaming throughout the House of Blues and it seemed nothing could stop the crowd from dancing. Sax player Matt Morrish really stole the show with his playing during this song (and it wouldn’t be the last time). Song “Save It For Later” let bassist Wayne Lothian really shine, especially during the bridge of the song, where his bassline is the focal point.
Dave Wakeling and the band had vivacious tenacity, and the energy just did not let up. The image of walkers and oxygen tanks quickly dispersed from any part of my brain.
The English Beat played all of their hits (and then some), like “Tenderness,” “I Confess,” Tears of a Clown,” and, of course, “Mirror in the Bathroom.” To my amazement, the crowd never tired, and danced their way to the end of an almost 2-hour long set. Perhaps the youngens of today can learn a thing or two about having fun from their parent’s generation!
For a band that was popular over 25 years ago, The English Beat brought a fun and lively set to the stage of House of Blues in Anaheim, all to the enjoyment of an almost-packed house. The show surely sparked fond memories of the ‘80s in many concert-goers, and by the looks on faces after the last song, it didn’t seem a single person left disappointed with what they had just experienced.